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Field Museum Showcases 4.6 Billion-Year-Old Asteroid Fragment

6/13/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The Field Museum has welcomed a remarkable asteroid fragment from Bennu, courtesy of NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission. Curator Dr. Philipp Heck describes this nearly 4.6 billion-year-old sample as the pinnacle of his career. While it holds vital clues about the origins of life, it will remain under wraps, on loan until August.

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Story summary

The Field Museum has welcomed a remarkable asteroid fragment from Bennu, courtesy of NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission. Curator Dr. Philipp Heck describes this nearly 4.6 billion-year-old sample as the pinnacle of his career. While it holds vital clues about the origins of life, it will remain under wraps, on loan until August.